Gas-producer.



PATENTED AUG. 9, 1904.

J. R. GEORGE.- GAS PRODUCER.

APILIOATIOH FILED APR. 22, 1902.

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Ziiornqy PATENTBD AUG. 9, 1904. J. R. GEORGE.

GAS PRODUCER.

APPLIOATIONFILED APR. 22, 1902. N0 MODEL.

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Jromefl. V eaye UNITE STATES Patented August 9, 190 1:.

JEROME R. GEORGE, OF \VOROESTER. h [ASSAOHUSETTS, ASSlG-NOR TO MORGAN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSAOHU- SETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSAOHUSETIYITS.

GAS-PRODUCER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 7136,8850 dated August 9, 1904,

Application filed April 22, 1902. Serial No. 101,187. (No model.)

To all, whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that LJnnoMn R. Gnonsn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented anew and useful Improvementin Feeding Mechanism for (Eras-Producers, of which the following is a specification accompanied by drawings forming a part of the same, in which Figure 1 represents a plan view of a feeding mechanism for gas-producers with the coalreservoir removed. Fig. 2 is a vertical central sectional view. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the rotating scraper detached from the feeding mechanism, and Fig. 1 is a sectional View of the rotating scraper. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the rotating coal-distributor. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the coal distributer on line 6 6, Fig. 7. Fig. 7 represents the same View of the coal-distributer as Fig. 5, but shows the section-line of Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 8 8, Fig. 2.

Similar reference-figures refer to similar parts in the different views.

My present invention relates to a mechanism for effecting a continuous supply and uniform distribution of coal in the heating-cha m ber of a gas-producer; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as here inafter described, and pointed out, in the annexed claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes the walls of a gas n'oducer inclosing a heating-chamber 2. The walls of the producer support a top plate 8, provided with a central opening 4 and having an annular recess 5 around the central opening to form a water-chamber. Mounted upon the top plate 3 are brackets 6, which support a coal-reservoir 7, which is separated by a horizontal par" tition 8 from a coal-chamber 9. The parti tion 8 is provided with an opening 10, which may be opened or closed at will by means of a rotating damper 11, provided with an opening 12 and arranged to be rotated, by means reservoir 7 is provided with a horizontal bottom 15, having a central opening 16 for the discharge of coal from the reservoir, and extending across the opening 16 is a spider 17, which supports acentral hub 18. Journaled in the hubs 1a and 18 is a rotating shaft 19, having attached to its upper end a collar 20, having a ball-bearing 21 between it and the hub 1%, which supports the weight of the parts attached to the rotating shaft 19. Carried by the shaft 19 and above the bearing 18 is a revolving disk 22, whose diameter is considerably greater than the opening 16 in the bottom of the coal-reservoir 7, thereby impeding the flow of coal through the opening 16, but having an annular space between the edge of the disk and the sides of the coal-reservoir 7, which permits the coal to rest upon the bottom 15 of the reservoir, from which itis scraped by a series of blades 23 upon the under side of the rotating disk 22. Attached to the lower end of the shaft 19, by means of a hub 21 and radial arms 25, is a rotating coal-distributer consisting of a cylindrical coal-section 26, concentric with the opening 16, and a hoppershaped section forming a spout 27, with its lower end smallest and having an unobstructed opening 28 placed at one side or eccentrically to the axis of the rotating shaft 19, so that as the coal-distributer rotated the opening 28 will travel in a circular path within the opening/1 and around an axis of rotation coincident with the shaft 19. Attached to the lower end of the hopper-shaped spent 27 is a cover 29, extending over the opening at, provided at its edge with a depending flange 30, which enters the water-space 5, thereby producing a water-sealed joint between the coaldistribnter and the top plate of the gas-producer. The upper surface of the cover 29 is recessed to form a water-receptacle 31, by which the top of the cover is cooled, and a body of water is maintained around the mouth of the spout 27 to protect the spout from heat. An annular water-space 32 is also formed around the cylindrical section 26, which not only serves to cool the upper portion of the coal-distributor, but incloses a flange 33, projecting downwardly from the under side of the bottom 15 of the coal-reservoir 7 to form a water-sealed joint between the coal-distributer and the coal-reservoir 7. The rotating coal-distributer is provided with ratchettecth 34, which are engaged by pawls 35, carried upon a vertical shaft 36, to which a reciprocating motion is given by any suitable mechanism such, for example, as a radial arm 37, rotating crank-plate 38, and link 39. The hopper-shaped spout 27 is provided on one side with a vertical wall 40 and on the opposite side with an inclined or oblique wall 41, and its inner surface is preferably provided with a series of ribs 42, by which the flow of coal over the inclined surface of the spout 27 is conducted in straight lines toward the mouth 28. The rotating coal-distributer is attached to the lower end of the vertical shaft 19 and is held concentrically with the coal-reservoir 7 by the journal-bearings 14 and 18, and its weight is supported upon the ball-bearings 21. The lower end of the coal-reservoir 7 is preferably surrounded by a water-space 43 to cool the lower end of the reservoir and prevent the coking of coal therein. A current of water is supplied to the water-space 43 by a water-pipe 44, and the overflow of water is conducted from the water-space 43 through a pipe 46 to the water-space 32, from which it overflows into the recess 31 of the cover 29 and thence to the water-space 5, from which the overflow is conducted by a pipe 47. A continuous stream of water is therefore kept flowing through the several water-spaces, beginning at the coolest section of the mechanism and gradually becoming heated as the cover 29 is reached, so that the temperature of the water around the opening or mouth 28 of the spout 27, while protecting the spout and cover from becoming unduly heated, is of sufficiently high temperature to prevent to some extent the condensation of the volatile gases generated in the producer.

The operation of my improved mechanism is as follows: Coal is admitted to the reservoir 7 from the chamber 9 by means of the rotating damper 11, and the passage of coal from the reservoir 7 throughthe central opening 16 is impeded by the disk 22, which extends sufficiently far over the bottom 15 to cause the coal to rest thereon at the angle of repose and prevent it from flowing through the central opening 16 when the coal-distributer is at rest; but when the coal-distributer is rotated the blades 23 will scrape the coal from the bottom 15 into the opening 16, through which it falls into the coal-distributer and is conducted through the spout 27 to the chamber of the gas-producer. That portion of the coal which enters the spout 27 next the vertical wall 40 falls in a straight line into the gas-producer, as indicated by the arrow 48, Fig. 5, while that falling upon the oblique wall 41 slides in an oblique line toward the outer edge of the heating-chamber, as indicated by the arrow 49, Fig. 5, thereby uniformly distributing the coal in an annular layer in the heating-chamber of the producer, while the coal delivered from other portions of the hopper-shaped spout 27 will be delivered over intermediate spaces in the producer.

In Fig. 8 I have shown at the area which would be covered by a charge of coal delivered through the opening 28 during the movement through the angle included between the radial lines 51 and 52. As the distributer is rotated this area will move around the chamber of the producer, covering the annular surface between the small circle 55 and the outer wall of the producer-chamber, and the coal will roll toward the center of the chamber sufficiently to cover the small area included within the circle 55, which represents the path of the inner edge of the opening 28 as it rotates around the axis of the shaft 19. In order to secure a uniform distribution of coal'over the entire annular space between the circle 55 and the outer wall of the chamber, it is necessary to increase the flow of coal from the center of the chamber outwardly as the corresponding area to be covered increases. For example, the space inclosed between the radial lines 51 and 52 is a segment of a circle, and if the coal-distributer were rotated to cover this space the flow of coal would need to be increased from the center outward to and placed at one side or eccentrically to its axis of rotation, while its upper end is substantially concentric with its axis of rotation, causing the outer wall 40 of the spout to be substantially vertical, while the diametrically IIO opposite side 41 has a suflicient inclination to I cause the coal to slide therefrom in the direction of the arrow 49, Fig. 5, and be carried to the outer edge of the producer-chamber, while the intervening sides 41 41, as shown in Fig. 6, have an inclination intermediate the side 40 and the side 41. Goal falling by gravity through the opening 28 falls in a straight line, as shown by thearrow 48, Fig. 5, near the center of the producer-chamber or contiguous to the line 55, while the coal sliding off the inclined side 41 will be carried toward the outer wall of the chamber 2, and as the amount of coal falling upon and delivered from the inclined side 41 will be largely in excess of that falling in a vertical line through the opening 28 the supply of coal delivered toward opening 28.

the outer edge of the producer-chamber will be in excess of that supplied toward the center. The increased flow of coal from the inclined. side 41 of the coal-distributer compared with that falling in a vertical line through the opening 28 is due to the fact that the inclinedside 4E1 subtends the larger part of the upper end of the spout than does the opening 28, and consequently more coal falls thereon, and also that there is a tendency of the coal to flow over the sides 41 toward the more inclined side 41 instead of sliding in a direct line toward the This latter tendency, however, might produce an undue excess of coal delivered from the inclined side 41, and when such is the case I counteract it by the use of ribs 42, which conduct the coal in direct lines to the opening 28.

Various methods have been employed here tofore to secure a continuous and un1form supply of coal to the chamber of a gas-producer; but so far as I am aware I am the lirst to accomplish this result by the employment of a rotating coal-distribute! having an unobstructed passage therethrough for the flow of coal with a delivery of coal over diiferent annular zones proportionately to the area to be covered in each, so that the distribution of coal within the producer-chaniber will be uniform. I do not confine myself, however, to the use of ribs on the inner surface of the coaldistributer; nor do Iconline myself to the specific shape of the distributer as shown. In fact, in some instances the ribs may be advantageously omitted, and the shape of the distributer and the particular angle of its sides will of necessity be varied by the varying conditions under which it is usedsuch, for example, as the diameter of the producer-chamber, the distance of the vertical fall of the coal, the speed the distributer is rotated, and the character and size of, the coal used. I have herein shown and described what I consider a preferable shape and construction,and I have set forth the principle of its operation with sufficient clearness to enable a mechanic conversant with the construction of gas-producers to put the same intopractice.

I do not herein claim, broadly, a rotating member between the cornbustion-chainber and the coal-reservoir and having an unobstructed coal-passage with a delivery-opening eccentric to its axis of rotation, as I have described such in my pending application for United States Patent, Serial No. 101,1i2.

invention I employa hopper instead of a pan,

with its sides at such an angle as to allow gravity to move the coal through the hopper unaided, the inclined sides of the hopper serving to give direction to the coal as it is delivered to the combustion-chainher. As the coal is carried freely through the hopper by gravity, whether the hopper is rotating or at rest, I employ in my present device means for impeding the flow of coal from the reservoir into the hopper, while in my former device the flow of coal was impeded within the rotating pan by lneansof its inclined bottom.

That I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a gas-producer, the combination with 'a heating-chamber provided with an opening in its top for the admission of coal, of a coalreservoir located above and over said opening and having an opening in its bottom for the delivery of coal, a rotating coal-distributer between said reservoir and the producer-chamber, said distributer consisting of a hoppershaped spout with its upper or admission end concentric with its axis of rotation and of greater area than its lower or delivery end which is eccentric to said axis of rotation, with the inclined side of said hopper-shaped spent at an angle to a vertical plane whereon coal will flow freely by the force of gravity alone, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the producer-charm her and a coal-reservoir placed above said chamber, of a rotating coal-distributer interposed between said coal-reservoir and said chamber, said distributer having an opening at its upper end for the admission of coal thereto from said reservoir and an opening at its lower end for the delivery of coal therefrom to the producer-chainber and of smaller area than said admission-opening with the sides of said coal-distributer inclined or hopper-shaped and at an angle to a horizontal plane greater than the angle of repose of the coal whereon coal will flow freely by the force of gravity alone, substantially as described.

3. A coal-distributer for gas-producers and similar apparatus, consisting of a rotating spout having an opening at its lower end for the delivery of coal therefrom to the heatingchamber of the producer, said delivery-opening being of smaller area than the admissionopening at the upper end of said spout and also having its sides at varying angles to a vertical plane, whereby the coal in sliding over the sides of the distributer will be given different angles, substantially as described.

4:. The c aldistributer for distributing coal to a gas-producer or similar apparatus and comprising a rotating hopper-shaped spout having an openingat its upper end for the atlmissionof coal and an opening at its lower end for the delivery of coal to the producer, said delivery-opening being eccentric to its axis of rotation with the side of said distributer farthest from the axis of rotation substantially in a vertical plane and with the diametrically opposite side inclined to a vertical plane at an angle greater than the angle of repose, whereby the coal in moving over said inclined side is given a direction away from the axis of rotation of the distributer after it leaves the delivery-opening, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a gas-producer having an opening in its top for the admission of coal and a coal-reservoir placed above said opening and having an opening in its bottom for the delivery of coal, of a rotating coal-distributer consisting of a hopper-shaped spout having an unobstructed passage therethrough for the free flow of coal by gravity and a rotating mechanism between said coaldistributer and said coal-reservoir adapted when at rest to impede the flow of coal from the reservoir to the distributer and when in motion to feed the coal from the reservoir to the distributer, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a gasproducer having an opening in its top for the admission of coal and a rotating coal-distributer for feeding coal through said opening, of a coalreservoir having a horizontal bottom having an opening for the delivery of coal to said coal-distributer with an annular space on said bottom for the support of coal thereon, a disk extending over said opening with an annular space between the edge of said disk and the side of the reservoir for the flow of coal and means for removing the coal from the bottom of the reservoir through said opening to the coal-distributer,substantially as described.

7. The combination of a coal-reservoir having an opening at its bottom for the delivery of coal, a mechanism for controlling the flow of coal through said opening, and a rotating coal-distributer consisting of a hopper-shaped spout placed beneath said opening for the uniform distribution of coal, said coal-distributer having a concentric opening at its upper end and an eccentric opening at its lower end of smaller area than said upper opening, with an unobstructed passage between said openings, substantially as described;

8. The combination with a gas-producer of a coal-reservoir having an opening in its bottom for the delivery of coal, of a shaft journaled concentrically in said reservoir, a rotating scraper carried by said shaft above said opening and a rotating coal-distributer carried by said shaft below said opening, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a gas-producer, of

. a coal-reservoir having a bottom provided with a smaller concentric opening for the delivery of coal, a rotating shaft concentric with said opening, a disk carried by said shaft above and overlapping the bottom of said reservoir, with an annular space between said disk and the sides of the reservoir, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a gas-producer, of a coal-reservoir having a bottom provided with a smaller concentric opening for the delivery of coal, of a rotating shaft concentric with said opening, a disk carried by said shaft above and overlapping the bottom of said reservoir, and means between said reservoir and the combustion-chamber for the distribution of coal.

11. Ina gas-producer, the combination of a coal-reservoir having a bottom provided with a smaller concentric opening, a rotating disk above and overlapping the bottom of said reservoir, and a series of scraping-blades carried by the under side of said disk, substantially as described.

12. The combination with a gas-producer, of a rotating coal-distributer, consisting of a hopper-shaped spout having a concentric opening at its upper end for the admission of coal and a smaller opening at its lower end for the delivery of coal to the combustion-chamber, said rotating distributer having sides of a varying inclination to a perpendicular line, and a series of longitudinal ribs on the interior surface of said distributer, substantially as described.

13. In a gas-producer, the combination with a combustion-chamber having an opening for the admission of coal, a stationary coal-reservoir supported above said opening, a rotating coal-distributer between said opening and said coal-reservoir, said distributer consisting of a hopper-shaped spout having a concentric opening at its top and an eccentric opening at its lower end of smaller area than said upper opening, and with the sides of said coal-distributer of varying inclination to a perpendicular line, but at an angle greater than the angle of repose, whereby the coal will be moved by gravity alone over said inclined sides in lines of varying angles to a perpendicular line as the coal leaves the distributer, substantially as described.

14. In a gas-producer, the combination with a combustion-chamber, of a stationary coal- JEROME R. GEORGE.

\Vitnesses:

Burns B. FOWLER, M. M. SGHUERMANN. 

